Valley athletes break records, win titles at region swim meet

PALMER — "Listen up, y'all, cuz this is it. The beat that I'm banging is delicious."

Colony senior standout Jake Simmons banged that beat on his way to rewriting much of the Colony High School record book Saturday during the Region III Championships at the Palmer Pool.

The Kodiak Bears took home both boys and girls region titles. Kodiak's Talon Lindquist and Marina Cummiskey took home the outstanding swimmer awards. Rivalries played out in the pool and swimmers broke region records in nearly every event.

The top-seeded swimmer or relay team got to choose walkup music from the staging area to the blocks before their events. Kendrick Lamar, The Script, and AC/DC blared over the speakers as swimmers prepared to compete for region titles.

"I don't like to do those pump up songs that people think of. I like to do those silly pop songs that everyone knows that they can stand up and dance and sing along to. I wanted people on their feet, ready," said Simmons.

Simmons chose “Fergalicious” and set a school record in the 100-yard backstroke. Simmons then chose Nicki Minaj's “Starships,” when the Colony boys set a school record in the 200 freestyle relay. Gabe Vestri-Giovanni narrowly held off Lindquist on the final leg with the entire audience standing and cheering, for the second meet in a row. Colony's team of Simmons, Konnor Kolberg, Ryan Chastain and Vestri-Giovanni also won the 400 freestyle relay.

Palmer's Max Snelders broke a 19-year-old school record in the 200 freestyle with a time of 1:45.87. Gretchen Snelders won both the 50 and 500 freestyle events.

Vestri-Giovanni broke his own Colony school record, again, in the 50 free with a time of 21.53.

Gretchen Snelders was part of a Palmer relay team that broke the school record in the 200 medley relay along with Maria Beck, Ashtyn Petersen, and Lindsay Musgrave. Colony's Camille Dayton won the 200 individual medley, but was unable to break her own school record.

Valley schools swept the diving events. Jayde Chan of Wasilla won the girls 1 meter dive, followed by two fellow Valley divers on the podium. Tanner Belliston of Colony won the boys 1 meter dive.

Simmons broke the region record and set a new school record in the 100 butterfly, only to take second place to Lindquist. Simmons clocked a time of 50.17 while Lindquist was just over a tenth of a second faster at 50.06.

Simmons plans to follow his friend and competitor Lindquist to swim in Hawaii in college.

"Swimming means family. You see these people for multiple hours a day and so many times throughout the year. To give blood sweat and tears and know you have these people pushing you is great," said Simmons.

Simmons said he is not just concerned with rewriting the majority of the school record book, but competing nationally in his events. He enjoys the way Lindquist, Snelders, and Vestri-Giovanni have pushed him as competitors and friends. Simmons now has his name on six events on the Colony High School record board.

Max Snelders chose a folksy love song as his walkup song.

""I don't want to get too serious before my race, it kind of freaks me out," said Snelders.

Snelders prevented Vestri-Giovanni from sweeping the sprint events, upsetting him in the 100 freestyle and setting a school record in the process. Vestri-Giovanni broke his own school record with a time of 47.57, but Snelders' school record was faster at 47.23.

Kodiak swept the podium in the girls 200 freestyle relay, the boys 200 individual medley and 100 breaststroke.

The Kodiak girls scored twice as many points as the teams that tied for second place, Soldotna and Palmer, on their way to the region championship. The Kodiak boys outscored second place Colony 104 to 61. Kenai took third place.

Valley swimmers and divers will compete at the ASAA/First National Bank State Swimming and Division Championships meet next weekend at Bartlett High School.

Tim Rockey is a freelance writer. Contact him at timothy.rockey@frontiersman.com

Region III Championships

Friday-Saturday, Palmer Pool

Girls team standings:

1. Kodiak 108; 2. Soldotna 56; 2. (tie) Palmer 56; 4. Homer 45; 5. Colony 39; 6. Wasilla 13; 7. Kenai 11; 8. Valdez 2.

Boys team standings:

1. Kodia 104; 2. Colony 61; 3. Kenai 38; 4. Palmer 37; 5. Wasilla 32; 6. Soldotna 29; 7. Homer 17; 8. Unalaska 8; 9. Seward 4.

Girls individual results:

200 medley relay — 1. Kodiak 1:50.55; 2. Homer 1:54.37; 3. Soldotna 1:55.84; 4. Palmer 1:57.02; Colony 1:57.25; 6. Valdez 2:12.36.

200 freestyle — 1. M. Cummiskey, Kod 1:54.59; 2. A. Sarnowski, Kod 2:04.41; 3. M. Blackmon, Kod 2:04.51; 4. Z. Abouelkheir, Sol 2:04.92; 5. A. Mattson, Col 2:04.70; 6. S. Geffken, Pal 2:09.33.

200 IM — 1. C. Dayton, Col 2:15.15; 2. D. Cummiskey, Kod 2:17.00; 3. M. Story, Hom 2:17.12; 4. L. Spea, Kod 2:18.70; 5. E. Farring, Col 2:24.72; 6. A. Berry, Hom 2:28.91.

50 freestyle — 1. G. Snelders, Pal 24.70; 2. S. Juliussen, Sol 25.02; 3. H. Glover, Kod 25.35; 4. E. Blaton, Hom 25.75; 5. A. Bales, Hom 26.14; 6. R. Reese, Ken 27.19.

1 meter dive — 1. J. Chan, Was 381.50; 2. C. Hartman, Pal 354.05; 3. C. Mayer, Was 349.30; 4. A. Brown, Hom 339.15; 5. E. Cyr, Col 326.90; 6. T. Coffman, Pal 232.55.

100 butterfly — 1. M. Cummiskey, Kod 58.23; 2. D. Cummiskey, Kod 59.33; 3. C. Dayton, Col 1:00.65; 4. P. Padilla, Sol 1:04.09; 5. E. Farring, Col 1:04.27; 6. A. Berry, Hom 1:07.09.

100 freestyle — 1. S. Juliussen, Sol 54.41; 2. H. Glover, Kod 54.96; 3. L. Musgrave, Pal 57.32; 4. E. Blanton, Hom 57.40; 5. M. Blackmon, Kod 57.43; 6. R. Reese, Ken 57.64.

500 freestyle — 1. G. Snelders, Pal 5:28.20; 2. Z. Abouelkheir, Sol 5:34.42; 3. S. Geffken, Pal 5:52.33; 4. R. Pitsch, Ken 5:53.90; 5. J. Beck, Pal 5:54.82; 6. K. Birch, Sol 6:03.82.

200 freestyle relay — 1. Kodiak 1:41.86; 2. Homer 1:41.99; 3. Palmer 1:43.82; 4. Soldotna 1:48.36; 5. Colony 1:51.38; 6. Kenai 1:51.52.

100 backstroke — 1. O. Apitz, Kod 1:03.60; 2. A. Sarnowksi, Kod 1:03.78; 3. P. Padilla, Sol 1:04.38; 4. C. Bechtol, Hom 1:04.42; 5. L. Musgrave, Pal 1:05.81; 6. A. Peterson, Pal 1:06.34.

100 breaststroke — 1. L. Spear, Kod 1:09.91; 2. M. Story, Hom 1:10.07; 3. A. Mattson, Col 1:11.94; 4. K. Creglow, Sol1:12.06; 5. A. Peterson, Pal 1:13.35; 6. M. Barkman, Sol 1:13.79.

400 freestyle relay — 1. Koidak 3:45.70; 2. Soldotna 3:46.73; 3. Colony 3:51.76; 4. Palmer 4:05.31; 5. Kenai 4:05.79; 6. Wasilla 4:08.47.

Boys individual results:

200 medley relay — 1. Kodiak 1:28.47; 2. Kenai 1:41.75; 3. Wasilla 1:43.17; 4. Homer 1:45.26; 5. Soldotna 1:51.50; 6. Unalaska 1:54.28.

200 freestyle — 1. M. Snelders, Pal 1:45.87; 2. G. Egdorf, Kod 1:48.98; 3. P. Peralta, Kod 1:51.41; 4. D. Olson, Pal 1:51.87; 5. D. Smith, Kod 1:52.62; 6. O. Rolph, Ken 1:55.37.

200 IM — 1. T. Lindquest, Kod 1:51.33; 2. N. Lee, Kod 2:04.20; 3. L. James, Kod 2:05.13; 4. K. Barrette, Was 2:05.38; 5. T. Handley, HOm 2:09.83; 6. C. Spanos, Sew 2:10.20.

50 freestyle — 1. G. Vestri-Giovanni, Col 21.53; 2. H. Reese, Ken 21.76; 3. C. Hancock, Was 22.44; 4. E. Evans, Sol 22.56; 5. A. Nguyen, Una 22.69; 6. R. Chastain, Col 22.99.

1 meter dive — 1. T. Belliston, Col 484.35; 2. K. Welch, Sol 475.10; 3. S. Skolnick, Sol 417.55; 4. S. Parnell, Kod 387.45; 5. R. Ulatan, Kod 385.40; 6. R. Godden, Pal 372.40.

100 butterfly — 1. T. Lindquist, Kod 50.06; 2. J. Simmons, Col 50.17; 3. H .Reese, Ken 52.25; 4. C. Spanos, Sew 55.30; 5. T. Handley, Hom 56.70; 6. R. Chastain, Col 57.01.

100 freestyle — 1. M. Snelders, Pal 47.23; 2. G. Vestrt-Giovanni, Col 47.57; 3. S. Heaven, Ken 48.21; 4. L. James, Kod 49.81; 5. G. Egdorf, Kod 49.90; 6. E. Evans, Sol 50.59.

500 freestyle — 1. D. Smith, Kod 4:58.23; 2. D. Olson, Pal 5:12.30; 3. C. Gross, Sol 5:26.65; 4. P. Collier, Pal 5:32.98; 5. J. Hengem, Kod 5:34.12; 6. K. Dalrymple-Sorenson, Pal 5:34.43.

200 freestyle relay — 1. Colony 1:28.70; 2. Kodiak 1:28.91; 3. Wasilla 1:32.71; 4. Palmer 1:33.34; 5. Homer 1:34.82; 6. Soldotna 1:44.61.

100 backstroke — 1. J. Simmons, Col 51.24; 2. S. Heaven, Ken 53.82; 3. K. Barrette, Was 56.12; 4. C. Arndt, Hom 56.61; 5. A. Nguyen, Una 57.25; 6. P. Peralta, Kod 57.41.

100 breaststroke — 1. A. Hocum, Kod 1:02.04; 2. N. Lee, Kod 1:0215; 3. W. Dumm, Kod 1:03.65; 4. M. Laughlin, Was 1:03.76; 5. C. Hancock, Was 1:03.99; 6. T. Bagley, Ken 1:05.66.

400 freestyle — 1. Colony 3:16.50; 2. Kodiak 3:17.34; 3. Kenai 3:24.83; 4. Soldotna 3:29.77; 5. Palmer 3:30.97; 6. Unalaska 3:46.86